Nucleotide sequences of HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retroviral antigens

ABSTRACT

An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognised by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.

The invention relates to the antigens obtained by expression of nucleotide sequences or by chemical synthesis, for example using Applied Biosystems brand synthesizers, present in HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O variants and more particularly the antigens corresponding to those which may be isolated from viral particles. By way of example of HIV-1 viruses of the subgroup O, reference is made to the HIV-1_((VAU)) isolate and to the HIV-1_((DUR)) isolate.

The invention also relates to monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies induced by these antigens.

The invention also relates to cloned DNA sequences either having sequence analogy or complementarity with the genomic RNA of the abovementioned virus. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of these cloned DNA sequences. The invention also relates to polypeptides containing amino acid sequences coded for by the cloned DNA sequences.

Furthermore, the invention relates to applications of the antigens mentioned above to the in vitro detection in at-risk individuals of certain forms of AIDS and, as regards some of them, to the production of immunogenic compositions and vaccinating compositions against this retrovirus. Similarly, the invention relates to applications of the abovementioned antibodies for the same purposes and, for some of them, to their application to the production of active principles for medicinal products against this human AIDS.

The invention also relates to the application of the cloned DNA sequences and of the polypeptides obtained from these sequences as probes or primers for gene amplification, in diagnostic kits.

The invention also relates to antigenic compositions which may be obtained by chemical synthesis or by expression in a recombinant cell host and which allow the diagnosis of an infection due to a human retrovirus of HIV type independently of the HIV-1 or HIV-2 subtype. Such compositions comprise at least one peptide chosen from the antigenic peptides common to the HIV-1, HIV-2, HIV-1_((DUR)) and HIV-1_((VAU)) viruses or variants of the antigenic peptides possessing similar immunogenic characteristics.

The invention is also directed toward compositions which allow the specific diagnosis of an infection due to a human retrovirus of HIV-1 type, more particularly HIV-1, group M, HIV-2 or HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O and comprising at least one antigenic peptide specific for the HIV-1 virus, an antigenic peptide specific for the HIV-2 virus and an antigenic peptide specific for the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O virus or variants of these antigenic peptides possessing similar immunogenic characteristics. More particularly, the antigenic peptides are derived from the envelope protein of HIV-1 group M and HIV-2 and HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O viruses.

The invention is moreover directed toward a peptide allowing detection of anti-HIV antibodies which the peptides of the prior art did not always make it possible to detect, based in particular on the discovery of a new HIV-1 strain: HIV-1 DUR. The antiserum directed against it does not always have reactivity with the peptides of the consensus HIV as it is used nowadays. The term “consensus HIV” refers to the regions which are conserved between isolates and whose demonstration is essential to the design of diagnostic reagents or vaccines, and whose mutations impart resistance to antiviral medicinal products. The term “peptide” used in the present text defines both oligopeptides and polypeptides.

STATE OF THE ART

Two types of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which have responsibility for the development of an LAS or AIDS have been isolated and characterized. A first virus, known as LAV-1 or HIV-1, was isolated and described in GB patent application 8324,800 and patent application EP 84401,834 of 14/09/1984. This virus was also described by F. Barré-Sinoussi et al. in Science (1983), 220, 868-871.

The type 2 HIV retrovirus belongs to a separate class and has only a limited immunological relationship with type 1 HIV retroviruses. HIV-2 retroviruses have been described in European patent application No. 87,400,151,4 published under the number 239,425.

The HIV-1 retrovirus is the most common and its presence is predominant in several regions worldwide. As regards the HIV-2 retrovirus, it is most often found in West Africa, although its propagation outside this region has recently been documented by Grez et al., (1994) J. Virol. 68, 2161-2168.

The totality of primate immunodeficiency lenti-viruses, comprising the type 1 and type 2 human immuno-deficiency viruses as well as several types of non-human primate viruses, is increasing in size and complexity. The most common of these viruses, HIV-1, is currently spreading in the form of a worldwide epidemic and is responsible for a major public health problem. Shortly after the identification and molecular characterization of this virus, it was recognized as being highly variable, and currently comprises several subtypes (Myers, 1994, Louwagie, et al. 1993, Louwagie et al. 1992, Myers, G. (1994) HIV-1 subtypes and phylogenetics trees. In: Human Retrovirus and AIDS 1994; Myers, G., Korber, B., Wain-Hobson, S., Smith, R. F. and Pavlakis, G. N., Eds. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N. Mex. III-2-III-9.). This differentiation of subtypes is mainly based on the divergence of the gag and env genes. At least 6 subtypes have been identified, designated A to F, but several are still likely to emerge from the ongoing extensive worldwide survey on the isolates of HIV-1. It has been found that these various subtypes are equidistant from each other, in a phylogenetic profile termed star phylogeny, which suggests that the various HIV-1 subtypes might have evolved and diverged synchronously from a common ancestor.

Recently, two separate viruses of this group of HIV-1 viruses were isolated and characterized. These two viruses were obtained from patients living in Cameroon, in West Central Africa (Gürtler, et al. 1994, Vanden Heasevelde, et al. 1994). Their sequence, more particularly the sequence of their env (envelope) gene, shows clearly that these viruses belong to a separate category of HIV-1-related viruses, referred to as HIV-1 group O (Nkengasong et al., 1993).

However, the diversity of the isolates within this group of HIV-1-related viruses is not known, and its propagation outside Africa has not been documented.

A general constraint, in the development of HIV serological tests, is to avoid both falsely positive—or falsely negative—results while at the same time retaining or improving the sensitivity in terms of detection of seropositivity which the previous tests allow.

Tests based on the use of consensus peptide(s), essentially derived from the “env” gene, were considered as an almost ideal solution until the discovery of the HIV-1-O variant brought to light the possibility of falsely negative results (Genomic cloning and complete sequence analysis of a highly divergent African human immunodeficiency virus isolate. J. Virol. 1994; 68: 1586-96; a new subtype of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (MDV-5180) from Cameroon. J. Virol. 1994; 68: 1581-85).

The non-reactivity of certain tests with “env” peptide antigen, in patients nonetheless exhibiting certain clinical syndromes characteristic of AIDS or lymphadenopathy syndromes which occasionally precede them, is, at the present time, occasionally attributed to an infection of the HIV-1-O group (HIV-1/HIV-2 seronegativity in HIV-1 subtype O infected patients, Lancet 1994; 343: 1393-94; New HIV-1 subtype in Switzerland. Lancet 1994; 344: 270-71).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be more fully described with reference to the drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and B depict RT activity and p24 levels.

FIG. 2 is a Western blot analysis of a series of serum samples.

FIGS. 3A-D show an amino acid alignment of the HIV-1VAU and HIV-1LAI envelope sequences (SEQ ID NO: 102 and SEQ ID NO: 103), including an alignment of HIV-1VAU and HIV-1LAI gp120 sequences (SEQ ID NO:46 and SEQ ID NO:48) and HIV-1VAU and HIV-1LAI gp41 sequences (SEQ ID NO:47 and SEQ ID NO:49).

FIG. 4 is a multiple alignment of the immunodominant peptides in the extracellular segment of the transmembrane envelope glycoprotein of various HIV-1 isolates (SEQ ID NOs:50-62).

FIGS. 5A-B contain branches of a phylogenetic tree.

FIG. 6 is the DNA sequence of HIV-1VAU env gene (SEQ ID NO:63).

FIG. 7 is the DNA sequence of HIV-1VAU virus integrase gene (SEQ ID NO:64).

FIGS. 8A-C contain a comparison of the GAG amino acid sequence of various HIV-1 strains (SEQ ID NOs:65-70).

FIG. 9A is a multiple alignment of the V3 loop of gp120 (SEQ ID NOs:71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, and 93).

FIG. 9B is a multiple alignment of the immunodominant region of gp41 (SEQ ID NOs:72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, and 94).

FIG. 10A is a 513 base pair DNA sequence of the GAG region of HIV-1 DUR (SEQ ID NO:95).

FIG. 10B is the corresponding 171 amino acid sequence of FIG. 10A (SEQ ID NO:96).

FIG. 11A is a 525 base pair DNA sequence of the V3 loop region of gp120 of HIV-1DUR (SEQ ID NO:97).

FIG. 11B is the corresponding 175 amino acid sequence of FIG. 11A (SEQ ID NO:98).

FIG. 12A is a 312 base pair DNA sequence of the immunodominant region of gp41 of HIV-1 DUR (SEQ ID NO:99).

FIG. 12B is the corresponding 104 amino acid sequence of FIG. 12A (SEQ ID NO: 100).

FIG. 13A shows specific primer sequences for HIV-1 type O (SEQ ID NOs:42-45).

FIG. 13B shows the corresponding positions of the primers of FIG. 13A in different HIV type O strains.

FIGS. 14A-B are serological correlation results.

FIGS. 15A-C are nucleotide comparisons of HIV sequences.

FIGS. 16A-C are protein comparisons of HIV sequences.

FIG. 17 is a phylogenetic tree.

FIG. 18A-B show an HPLC chromatogram of a VAU peptide.

FIG. 19A-B show a mass spectroscopy analysis of a VAU peptide (SEQ ID NO: 101).

FIGS. 20A-C contain immunoreactivity data.

FIGS. 21A-C contain immunoreactivity data.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide diagnostic laboratories with means, in particular specific peptides, allowing a detection of anti-HIV antibodies which were hitherto liable to be undetected. The invention also relates to mixtures of peptides obtained from HIV-1 DUR and of corresponding peptides from other HIVs, so as to avoid potential “false negative” results.

The invention moreover relates to a process of detection and of discrimination, in a biological sample, between antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1-M type retrovirus and antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus.

The invention stems from observations made on a seropositive woman who had stayed in the Cameroon and who had revealed an atypical serological reactivity, in the course of several tests of screening for HIV infection, these tests having been confirmed by “Western blot” techniques.

On account of this atypical serological reactivity, in particular the lack of reactivity to certain third-generation tests, even modified for the O type, the inventors considered it interesting to carry out sequencing of certain parts of the genome of this HIV-1 DUR strain, more specifically of the GAG and ENV genes.

However, gene amplifications by PCR using primers obtained from the M group and known primers from the O group were unsuccessful for the parts coding for the V3 loop of gp120, and for the immunodominant region of gp41. Only the GAG region could be amplified using primers known in the prior art (Loussert-Ajaka I, Lancet 1994; 343: 1393). Another aim of the present invention is consequently to determine primers capable of overcoming this problem.

Partial sequences of the glycoproteins gp41 and gp120 were determined, along with capsid proteins (GAG gene), from lymphocyte DNA and from viral cultures, indicating that this HIV-1 DUR strain belongs in part to the HIV-1-O group, and that it differs considerably from the M group, more particularly as regards gp41 and gp120.

Thus, it was possible to demonstrate, more particularly as regards the GAG sequence of HIV-1 (DUR), the existence of consensus sequences in the O group, in several regions, which are distinct from the consensus sequences of the M group in the same regions.

Cloning of the sequences coding for the GAG, gp41 and gp120 fragments of HIV-1_((DUR)) was carried out in a Bluescript® plasmid containing a PST1 site. The amplification products were cloned either according to the standard techniques using T3 and T7 universal primers, or directly sequenced by using the primers of the preceding amplification. The sequences were then determined with the Applied Biosystems 373A automated sequencer (ESGS Montigny le Bretonneux, France).

Within the context of the present invention, the inventors have isolated and sequenced the env gene from an O group isolate, HIV-1_((VAU)), obtained from a French patient who had never traveled outside Europe and who died of AIDS in 1992. According to its envelope sequence, HIV-1_((VAU)) is related to two recently characterized Cameroonian viruses HIV_(ANT70) and HIV_(MVP5180) Phylogenetic analysis of the env sequences reveals that the three viruses appear to constitute a separate group, which will be referred to herein as HIV-1 group O. The isolation of HIV-_((VAU)) from this patient also indicates that a degree of propagation of HIV-1 group O has already occurred outside Africa.

Isolation of the HIV-1_((VAU)) Virus

HIV-1_((VAU)) was isolated in 1992 from a 41-year-old French patient suffering from AIDS. This patient exhibited, in 1986, a severe leuconeutropenia associated with a carcinoma of the uterine cervix. However, she gradually showed signs of opportunistic infections, with a reduction in the number of circulating CD4⁺ T cells and she died of AIDS in 1992. Anti-HIV-1 antibodies were first detected by ELISA (Elavia, Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur and Abbott test) in 1990.

The patient had never traveled outside Europe, had not used intravenous medicinal products and had not received any known blood transfusion. No sexual partner of African origin has been identified. She gave birth to a healthy child in 1971, but a son, born in 1980, died at the age of one following a clinical episode highly suggestive of neonatal AIDS. Her third child, born in 1983, and her husband are currently in good health and not infected.

The isolation of the virus was carried out in the following manner: the CD8⁺ cells present in the PBMCs (peripheral blood lymphocytes) of the patient were removed using beads coated with IOT8 antibodies (Immunotech). These remaining PBMCs were stimulated with PHA, then cocultured with CD8-depleted PBMCs obtained from a healthy donor and stimulated with PHA. Viral growth in the coculture was monitored by assaying the reverse transcriptase (RT) activity of the supernatant and by ELISA test of the HIV-1 p24 (diagnostic kit marketed by DuPont de Nemours). The virus obtained from the initial coculture was subjected to several passages in CD8-depleted and PHA-stimulated PBMC cultures. Several attempts were made to infect, with the HIV-1_((VAU)) various transformed cell lines, including MT4 cells (Harada, et al. 1985) and CEM cells (Rey, et al. 1989), as well as the Hela-CD4-LTRLacZ cell line P4-2 (Clavel and Chameau 1994).

Biological Characterization of HIV-1_((VAU))

Two weeks after coculturing the patient's CD8-depleted, PHA-stimulated PBMCs with similar bells from a healthy donor, the production of virus was detected in the form of an RT activity peak in the culture supernatant. This virus could then be subjected to serial passages on CD8-depleted, PHA-stimulated normal PBMCs. FIG. 1A represents the production of HIV-1_((VAU)) in infected PBMC culture supernatants, checked by RT assay (filled circles) and HIV-1 p24 antigen capture ELISA (empty circles). The concentration of HIV-1 p24 is expressed in ng/ml and the RT activity in cpm/μl. In FIG. 1B, the same experiment was carried out with a standard primary HIV-1 isolate from an AIDS patient.

Although the growth of HIV-1_((VAU)) was easily detected by RT assay, the detection of virus in the culture supernatants by HIV-1 p24 ELISA (DuPont) was substantially less sensitive. FIG. 1 shows the comparison between the profiles of productive infection of PBMCs either with HIV-1_((VAU)) or with a primary HIV-1 isolate from an AIDS patient, assayed by RT or p24. For equivalent quantities of particles, determined by assay of RT activity in the supernatants assayed, approximately 25 times less p24 was detected in the case of HIV-1_((VAU)) than in the case of the other HIV-1 isolate. The difference may be due to the fact that the monoclonal antibody specific for HIV-1 p24, which is used to coat the ELISA plates, has only a weak affinity for the gag products of HIV-1_((VAU)).

Several negative attempts were made to propagate HIV-1_((VAU)) on transformed human T cell lines sensitive to HIV-1. In particular, cocultures between PBMCs infected with HIV-1_((VAU)) and either MT4 cells or CEM cells did not lead to propagation of the virus. It was also found that this virus was not capable of infecting CD4⁺ HeLa cells (P4-2) (Clavel and Charneau 1994) carrying a lacZ gene inducible by the tat gene. Likewise, no replication of HIV-1_((VAU)) could be detected in activated peripheral blood lymphocytes from several chimpanzees.

Analysis of the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope sequence, which will be described in detail later, and its comparison with that of the two recently described Cameroonian isolates indicate that all three viruses belong to the same group of HIV-1-related viruses. Furthermore, this comparison indicates that these three variants of the virus are approximately phylogenetically equidistant from each other. Consequently, each of the three virus variants constitutes on its own a distinct subtype of their group, which is now called HIV-1 group O. This group is different from the group of other HIV-1 isolates, identified up until now, which the inventors call here HIV-1, group M.

The appearance of this new group poses the question of its origin: did group O evolve from group M viruses (or conversely) or does each group have a different history? The inventors think that, insofar as both group M and group O have a similar internal divergence profile, it is likely that they each correspond to the diversification of distinct viral ancestors in distinct human populations. It is not possible to assess from the phylogenetic and virological data currently available whether the ancestor of either of the two groups affected humans naturally or was introduced into humans from other species. The only virus similar to HIV-1 present in a nonhuman primate is the SIVCPZGA3 isolate (Huet, et al. 1990), isolated from a chimpanzee apparently infected naturally, which is clearly different both from group M and from group O, and for which no human equivalent has been found. It is unlikely that the group O viruses evolved recently from a chimpanzee virus insofar as HIV-1_((VAU)) has not succeeded in replicating in chimpanzee lymphocytes.

Why does the group O epidemic appear only now, some 15 to 20 years later than group M? There are three possible explanations: firstly, the introduction of the ancestor of the group O viruses into humans is thought to have occurred more recently than that of croup M; secondly, it is possible that group M was allowed to spread earlier compared with group C because of different social conditions in their region of origin; and thirdly, the group O viruses could have a lower capacity for transmission compared with that of the group M viruses. It has been proposed that such a property explains the absence of significant worldwide propagation of HIV-2, for which a smaller viral load in infected subjects is linked to reduced transmissibility (De Cock, et al. 1993). In this regard, although no data are available on the viral load in patients infected with an HIV-1 group O, the pathogenicity of these viruses does not appear to be different from that of HIV-1. The patient from whom HIV-1_((VAU)) was isolated died of AIDS, like the patient from whom the HIV_(MVP5180) group O isolate was obtained.

However, the natural history of infection of the HIV-1_((VAU)), patient is still not clear, but there are several indications that this patient was infected before 1980, as suggested by the death on that date of her second child suffering from a syndrome resembling AIDS.

The invention relates to any variant of the nucleic acid sequences of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus or of any group O equivalent virus, containing structural proteins which have the same immunological properties as the structural proteins coded for by the env gene comprising the sequence described in FIG. 6 and called “vau”, also designated by SEQ ID NO:63.

The present invention also relates to compositions containing either antigens according to the invention, or a mixture of antigens according to the invention combined with extracts originating from one or more HIV-1 group O viruses or from other variant viruses, on the one hand, and from one or more HIV-2 and/or HIV-1 viruses, on the other hand, these compositions being optionally labeled. It is possible to use any type of appropriate label: enzymic, fluorescent, radioactive, etc.

Nucleic Acids

The invention relates to the DNAs or DNA fragments, more particularly cloned DNAs and DNA fragments, obtained from RNA, cDNA or primers which can be used in PCR, or other gene amplification methods, derived from the HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus RNA or DNA. The invention relates more particularly to all the equivalent DNAs, especially to any DNA having sequence homologies with the HIV-1_((VAU)) DNA, in particular with the sequence coding for the env region of the HIV-1_((VAU)) strain comprising the sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:63 represented in FIG. 6 and called “vau”. The homology with HIV-1 group M is at least equal to 50%, preferably to 70% and still more advantageously to about 90%. Generally, the invention relates to any equivalent DNA (or RNA) capable of hybridizing with the DNA or RNA of a group O HIV-1 retrovirus.

The invention also relates to the RNA sequences corresponding to the DNA sequences defined above.

The invention also relates to the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus integrase gene comprising the sequence identified by the name SEQ ID NO:64 or hybridizing with SEQ ID NO:64. The invention also relates to the RNAs corresponding to the DNA described above.

The subject of the invention is also compositions containing the peptides or polypeptides encoded by the abovementioned DNA or DNA fragments.

Oligonucleotides derived from the VAU sequence or alternatively from the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus integrase gene, particularly oligonucleotides comprising at least 9 nucleotides, may be used for the detection of group O HIV-1 virus DNA or RNA sequences in biological samples, cell cultures or cell extracts, by the PCR technique or any other gene amplification technique. These sequences could be used either as gene amplification primers or as probes for the specific detection of the gene amplification products. Also capable of being used as hybridization probes are the amplification products, or their corresponding synthetic sequence, obtained by chemical synthesis (Applied Biosystems).

The invention also covers any fragment of at least 100 nucleotides which may be used as a probe in hybridization reactions and capable of permitting reaction with part of the genome of an HIV-1_((VAU)) variant under high stringency hybridization conditions.

Cloning and Sequencing of the HIV-1_((VAU)) env Gene

For the initial PCR amplification of the HIV-1_((VAU)) DNA, the total DNA was extracted from PBMCs infected with HIV-1_((VAU)) and a segment of the pol gene (integrase region) was amplified using degenerate primers:

Seq. ID No. 1 primer 4506: 5′AGTGGAT(A/T) (T/C)ATAGAAGCAGAAGT3′;; Seq. ID No. 2 primer 5011: 5′ACTGC(C/T)CCTTC(A/C/T)CCTTTCCA3′;;

The reaction medium including 50 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.9), 1.5 mM MgCl₂, 0.1 mg/ml gelatin, 0.2 mM dNTP, 1U of Taq polymerase (Amersham). The PCR was carried out in 43 thermal cycles at 92° C. for 10 seconds, 50° C. for 1 minute and 72° C. for 40 seconds.

The resulting amplification product was cloned into a pBluescript vector, generating the clone ph4, deposited at the Collection Nationale des Cultures de Micro-organismes (CNCM), Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex France, on 20 Oct. 1994 under No. I-1486, which was subsequently used as a probe to screen a lambda library of low molecular weight DNA, which was digested with EcoRI and was obtained from cells infected with HIV-1_((VAU)). Briefly, the PBMCs infected with HIV-1_((VAU)) were cocultured for 24 hours with new PBMCs stimulated with PHA and depleted of CD8⁺ cells, after which a high cytopathic effect (CPE) was visible. The low molecular weight DNA was then extracted according to the Hirt method (Hirt 1967), and digested with the enzyme EcoRI. A previous Southern-blot analysis of this DNA had indeed shown that the HIV-1_((VAU)) genome contained only one EcoRI site, permitting the cloning of nonintegrated circular DNA species representing the entire viral genome. The resulting digestion product was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis, and the population of DNA fragments of approximately 8-12 kb in size was purified and ligated to EcoRI-digested lambda Zap DNA (Stratagene). After encapsidation, plating and screening by hybridization with ³²P-labeled ph4 DNA, a clone, λH34, was identified as being positive, and amplified. The EcoRI insert was purified, sonicated, and cloned by the “shotgun” technique into the phosphatase-treated vector M13 mp18 digested with the enzyme SmaI. One hundred and fifty of the clones obtained were sequenced in a 373A DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems), and the resulting sequences were assembled into a single sequence using the Wisconsin GCG DNA analysis package.

Analysis of this sequence revealed numerous nonsense codons in all the reading frames, which is highly suggestive of a hypermutated genome (Vartanian, et al. 1991). This sequence being unusable, it was consequently decided to amplify, by PCR, the HIV-1_((VAU)) env gene using the total DNA from PBMCs infected with HIV-1_((VAU)), and the oligonucleotide primers derived from the sequence % H34:

primer TH2 5′GCTCTAGATGGGGATCTCCCATGGCAGG3′; Seq. ID No. 3 primer UH2 5′GCTCTAGATCAGGGAAGAATCCCTGAGTGT3′.. Seq. ID No. 4

The PCR amplification was carried out in 35 thermal cycles at 92° C. for 15 seconds, 52° C. for 1 minute, 60° C. for 2 minutes and 72° C. for 2 minutes. The resulting amplification product, of 3.5 kb in size, was cloned into the M13 mp18 vector and sequenced by successive reactions, first using the M13 universal sequencing primer, and then the primers deduced from the upstream sequences. Analysis of the nucleotide and peptide sequences was carried out using the Wisconsin GCG DNA analysis package. The HIV-1_((VAU)) env gene codes for 877 amino acids in total, including the signal peptide. The nucleotide sequence of the HIV-1_((VAU)) env gene corresponds to Seq. ID NO:63 (see FIG. 3).

Use of Nucleic Acids as Probes

The invention also relates naturally to the use of DNA, cDNA or fragments thereof, or of recombinant plasmids or other equivalent vectors containing these fragments, as probes, for detecting the presence or otherwise of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus in serum samples or other biological fluids or tissues obtained from patients suspected of being carriers of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus. These probes are optionally labeled (radioactive, enzymic or fluorescent labels and the like). Probes which are particularly valuable for the implementation of the method for detecting the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus or an HIV-1_((VAU)) variant may be characterized in that they comprise all or a fraction of the DNA complementary to the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus genome or alternatively especially the fragments contained in various clones. An HIV-1_((VAU)) cDNA fraction containing all or part of the env region will be mentioned more particularly.

The probes used in this method for detecting the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus or in diagnostic kits are not in any way limited to the probes described previously. They comprise all the nucleotide sequences obtained from the genome of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus, an HIV-1_((VAU)) variant or a virus similar by its structure, provided that they allow the detection, using biological fluids from individuals likely to have AIDS, of an HIV-1 group O virus, in particular HIV-1_((VAU)) by hybridization with the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus DNA or RNA.

Particularly advantageous are the probes which, when hybridized with HIV-1, give a strong reaction with HIVs belonging to group O and a weak reaction with HIVs belonging to group M. By way of nonlimiting example, a probe constructed from the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus integrase gene sequence (SEQ ID NO:64) gives, when it is hybridized with HIV-1 under hybridization conditions such as those described in Patent EP 178 978, a strong reaction with group O HIVs and a weak reaction with group M HIVs.

The detection may be performed in any manner known per se, especially: by bringing these probes into contact either with the nucleic acids obtained from cells contained in biological fluids (for example spinal fluid, saliva and the like), or with these fluids themselves, provided that their nucleic acids have been made accessible to hybridization with these probes, and this under conditions permitting hybridization between these probes and these nucleic acids, and by detecting the hybridization which maybe produced.

The abovementioned diagnosis involving hybridization reactions may also be performed using mixtures of probes derived from HIV-1_((VAU)), HIV-1 and HIV-2 respectively, provided that it is not necessary to make a distinction between the desired HIV virus types.

The subject of the invention is also expression vectors containing the sequence coding for the HIV-1 envelope proteins or containing the sequence coding for the integrase.

The invention comprises compositions for detecting the presence or otherwise of the HIV-1_(VAU) virus in serum samples or samples of other biological fluids or tissues, obtained from patients likely to be carriers of the HIV-1_(VAU) virus. These compositions are characterized in that they comprise at least one probe obtained from a nucleotide sequence obtained or derived from the HIV-1_(VAU) virus genome, particularly an HIV-1_(VAU) DNA fragment containing the region or part of the region coding for the env protein of the HIV-1_(VAU) virus or of an HIV-1 VAU variant.

Advantageously, the composition described above also comprises a probe obtained from a nucleotide sequence derived from HIV-1 or HIV-2.

Other diagnostic compositions comprise the primers of the invention which are capable of being used in gene amplification of subgroup O retroviruses or variants of these retroviruses.

Antigens, Especially Proteins and Glycoproteins

The invention relates to an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retroviral protein, or natural or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognized by antibodies which may be isolated from serum obtained after an infection with an HIV-1 group O VAU strain, or an HIV-1 group O DUR strain.

The invention relates to an external envelope protein of the HIV-1_(VAU) retrovirus encoded by the gene comprising the sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:63. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this protein is in addition characterized in that it comprises the amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:46 represented in FIG. 3 and comprising amino 20 acid residues 1 to 526. The subject of the invention is also any polypeptide or variant which is derived from said sequence having an epitope which may be recognized by antibodies induced by the HIV-1_(VAU) virus.

The abovementioned protein may be obtained in a glycosylated or nonglycosylated form.

The subject of the invention is also an envelope transmembrane protein comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:47 represented in FIG. 3 between amino acid residues 527 and 877. This transmembrane protein is, within the scope of the invention, in glycosylated or nonglycoslated form.

The invention relates to all the antigens, especially proteins, glycoproteins, polypeptides or peptides, obtained by expressing coding sequences of the HIV-1_((VAU)) genome and having immunological properties equivalent to those of HIV-1_((VAU)). The antigens are said to be equivalent within the scope of the present invention provided that they are recognizable by the same antibodies, especially antibodies which can be isolated from serum obtained from a patient who has been infected with an HIV-1_((VAU)).

In particular, the subject of the invention is the peptides or polypeptides which are synthesized chemically and whose amino acid sequence is contained in that of the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope proteins, which sequence is represented in FIG. 3, or the equivalent peptides or polypeptides.

There should also be included among the equivalent peptides, polypeptides, proteins or glycoproteins, the fragments of the above antigens and the peptides which are prepared by chemical synthesis or by genetic engineering, so long as they give rise to immunological cross-reactions with the antigens from which they are derived. In other words, the invention relates to any peptide or polypeptide having epitopes which are identical or similar to the epitopes of the abovementioned antigens and which are capable of being recognized by the same antibodies. Forming part of this latter type of polypeptides are the products of expression of DNA sequences corresponding to DNA sequences coding for the polypeptides or antigens mentioned above.

More particularly, the antigens which are obtained from the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus or produced by genetic engineering or conventional chemical synthesis, and which are of the greatest interest within the context of the present invention, are the antigens which make it possible to obtain a clear distinction between the HIV-1_((VAU)) viruses of the invention and the viruses of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 groups. In this regard, considerable differences have been observed at the level of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus envelope protein as well as at the level of the immunodominant epitope of the external portion of the PM protein. It appears that the gag and pol proteins exhibit greater similarity with the HIV-1 virus than the envelope protein.

The invention also relates to peptides or polypeptides which are identical to the immunodominant region of the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope transmembrane glycoprotein. This region is represented in FIG. 3.

Preferred polypeptides of this region are, for example, those which contain the sequence CKNRLIC (SEQ ID NO:5) or correspond to this sequence. They may also be peptides or polypeptides corresponding to the sequence RLLALETFIQNWWLLNLWGCKNRLIC (SEQ ID NO:6) or comprising this sequence.

Another preferred peptide, identified below by the name “VAU peptide”, corresponds to the following sequence or comprises this sequence or any part of this sequence capable of being recognized by antibodies directed against the HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus

(SEQ ID NO: 7) RARLLALETFIQNQQLLNLWGCKNRLICYTSVKWNKT.

Variant polypeptides of this sequence are for example the polypeptides represented in FIG. 4 for the HIV-_((MVP5180)) and HIV-1_((ant70)) isolates. These polypeptides may also be derived from the preceding ones by insertion and/or deletion and/or substitution, for example conservative substitution by amino acid residues.

The present invention relates obtained from the HIV-1-O DUR virus deposited on 23 Feb. 1995 at the Collection Nationale des Cultures de Micro-organismes (CNCM), Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex France, under the reference I-1542, or a peptide whose sequence is distinguished from that of the above by substitution, deletion or addition of amino acids, this separate peptide nevertheless retaining the antigenic characteristics of the above one.

Other peptides falling within the scope of the invention are defined below.

Thus, a preferred peptide of the invention is a peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids contained in the GAG sequence represented in FIG. 8A-C or in an immunologically similar GAG sequence obtained from a variant of the HIV-1-O DUR virus, said immunologically similar sequence being recognized by antibodies which also specifically recognize at least one of the sequences AHPQQA (SEQ ID NO:8), LWTTRAGNP (SEQ ID NO:9) contained in the GAG sequence of FIG. 8.

Preferably, this peptide consists of a peptide whose amino acid sequence is contained either in one of the following sequences:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) SPRTLNAWVKAVEEKAFNPEIIPMFMALSEGA (1) (SEQ ID NO: 11) MLNAIGGHQGALQVLKEVIN (2) (SEQ ID NO: 12) GPLPPGQIREPTGSDIAGTTSTQQEQI (3) (SEQ ID NO: 13) IPVGDIYRKWIVLGLNKMVKMYSPVSILDI (4) (SEQ ID NO: 14) QGPKEPFRDYVDRFYKTKLAE (5) (SEQ ID NO: 8) AHPQQA (5a) (SEQ ID NO: 9) LWTTRAGNP (5b) or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids of one of said sequences.

Preferably also, this peptide consists of a peptide whose amino acid sequence is contained either in one of the following sequences:

SPRTLNAWVK (6) (SEQ ID NO: 15) GSDIAGTTST (7) (SEQ ID NO: 16) QGPKEPFRDYVDRF (8) (SEQ ID NO: 17) or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least four consecutive amino acids of one of said sequences.

Peptides which are particularly preferred in the present invention are the peptides containing:

-   -   the amino acid sequence NPEI (9) (SEQ ID NO: 18) or

the amino acid sequence AVEEKAFNPEIIPMFM (10) (SEQ ID NO:19), and more particularly peptides whose amino acid sequence is contained, either in one of the following sequences:

IGGHQGALQ (23) (SEQ ID NO: 20) REPTGSDI (24) (SEQ ID NO: 21) or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids of one of said sequences, as well as the peptide whose amino acid sequence is contained, in the following amino acid sequence:

IDEAADWD (25) (SEQ ID NO: 22) or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids of said sequence.

The present invention relates to the nucleic acid sequences coding for peptides (23), (24) and (25) as well as the nucleic acid sequences coding for the immunologically similar sequences, as well as compositions comprising at least one of these nucleic acids.

The invention also relates to the use of at least one of these nucleic acids for detection and discrimination between HIV-1 group M and HIV-1 group O strains. A peptide derived from the HIV-1-O DUR virus defined above also falls within the scope of the present invention, said peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids of the V3 loop of gp120 represented in FIG. 9A or of 25 immunologically similar sequence, variant of the HIV-1-O DUR virus, said immunologically similar sequence being recognized also specifically recognize by antibodies which also specifically recognize at least one of the sequences:

KEIKI (12), (SEQ ID NO: 23) EREGKGAN (13), (SEQ ID NO: 24) CVRPGNNSVKEIKI (14), (SEQ ID NO: 25) QIEREGKGANSR (15). (SEQ ID NO: 26)

This peptide preferably contains:

a) either the sequence CVRPGNNSVKEIKIGPMAWYSMQIEREGKGANSRTAFC (11) (SEQ ID NO:27) or a part of this sequence which contains at least 4 amino acids

b) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from the sequence of a) in which one or more amino acids are replaced with two amino acids, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the abovementioned peptide,

c) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from a) or b), in which one or more amino acids have been deleted or added, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the peptide of a),

d) or a corresponding immunologically similar sequence or part of sequence.

Preferably also, this peptide contains either

the sequence KEIKI (12) (SEQ ID NO:23), or

the sequence EREGKGAN (13) (SEQ ID NO:24), or

the sequence GPMAWYSM (16) (SEQ ID NO:28).

In a particularly preferred manner, a peptide as defined above contains the amino acid sequence

CVRPGNNSVKEIKI (14) (SEQ ID NO:25) or the sequence

QIEREGKGANSR (15) (SEQ ID NO:26).

A peptide derived from the HIV-1-O DUR virus as defined above also falls within the scope of the invention, said peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids, whose entire sequence is contained in the sequence of the immunodominant region of gp41 represented in FIG. 9 or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence, obtained from a variant of the HIV-1-O DUR virus, said immunologically similar sequence being recognized by antibodies which also specifically recognize at least one of the following sequences:

(SEQ ID NO: 29) RLLALETLMQNQQL (17), (SEQ ID NO: 30) LNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWNETWG (18), (SEQ ID NO: 31) CRGKAI (19), (SEQ ID NO: 32) SVQWN (20), (SEQ ID NO: 33) RLLALETLMQNQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTS (21), (SEQ ID NO: 34) QNQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWN (22).

This peptide is preferably a peptide containing the sequence

RLLALETLMQNQQL (17) (SEQ ID NO:29), or

LNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWNETWG (18) (SEQ ID NO:30)

or part of this peptide (18) (SEQ ID NO:30) containing:

a) either the sequence CRGKAI (19) (SEQ ID NO:31) or the sequence SVQWN (20) (SEQ ID NO:32) in which Q is, where appropriate, replaced by a different amino acid, which is nevertheless also different from K, or the two sequences at the same time,

b) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from the sequence of a) in which one or more amino acids are replaced with two amino acids, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the peptide of a),

c) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from a) or b), in which one or more amino acids have been deleted or added, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the peptide of a),

d) or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence or part of sequence.

Preferably also, this peptide possesses one or the other of the following characteristics:

-   -   its N-terminal sequence which contains at least 8 amino acids is         not immunologically recognized by antibodies formed against the         sequence RILAVERY (SEQ ID NO:35) contained in the immunodominant         region of gp41 of the 35 HIV-1-LAI strain.     -   it is not recognized by antibodies formed against the peptide         SGKLIC (SEQ ID NO:36) of the HIV-1-LAI strain.     -   it contains either of the following two sequences:

(SEQ ID NO: 33) RLLALETLMQNQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTS (21) (SEQ ID NO: 34) QNQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWN (22).

Synthesis of VAU Peptides

A VAU peptide was prepared by the conventional solid phase peptide synthesis technique using the “continuous flow” Fmoc method. The peptide was prepared using a Milligen 9050 PEP synthesizer and using the “Millipore” PEG PAL resin, substituted with the first C-terminal amino acid residue. The side chains of the amino acids are protected by the following groups: Pmc for arginine; Trt for asparagine, glutamine and cysteine; Boc for lysine; tBu ester for glutamic acid; tBu ether for serine, threonine and tyrosine. The temporary Fmoc groups are removed with a 20% piperidine solution in DMF. The reactions for coupling each amino acid are performed with 6 equivalents of DIPCDI and HOBT. Some residues require a double coupling especially arginines 1 and 23, cysteines 19 and 26, asparagine 11, glutamines 10, 12 and 13, alanine 4, isoleucine 9 and leucines 2, 3, 14 and 15.

After coupling, the resin is dried under vacuum. The peptide is cleaved from the support by the K reagent for 4 hours at room temperature. The crude peptide is precipitated and washed with ethyl ether. The product is purified by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a WATERS LC PREP 4000 instrument with WATERS Delta Pak C1 8 40×100 mm cartridges, flow rate 30 ml/min, acetonitrile/0.1% TFA gradient. The fractions containing the peptide are combined, concentrated in a rotary evaporator and then lyophilized.

Cyclization

The peptide (0.025 mM) is dissolved in a 10 mM ammonium acetate solution. The pH is adjusted to 8.5 with 1 M ammonium hydroxide solution. The pH is readjusted after 3 or 4 hours. The cyclization is monitored by HPLC at 214 nm and 280 nm, WATERS Delta Pak C18 5μ column, acetonitrile/0.1% TFA gradient. The cyclization is complete after 15 hours. The pH is brought to 6 using 97-100% acetic acid, the solution is lyophilized and then purified under the same conditions as for the crude peptide.

The peptide is checked by HPLC and by mass spectrometry according to the electrospray technique (FIGS. 18A-B and FIGS. 19A-B) (FISON VG Trio 2000 spectrophotometer).

Fmoc: 9-Fluoraenylmethyloxycarbonyl Pmc: 8-Methylpentane-6-sulfonylchroman Trt: Tritryl Boc: Tertbutyloxycarbonyl tBU: tert butyl DMF: Dimethylformamide DIPCDI: Diisopropylcarbodiimide HOBT: 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole TFA: Trifluoroacetic acid Reagent K: Phenol/water/thioanisole/ethanedithiol/TFA; 2.5 ml/2.5 ml/ 2.5 ml/1.5 ml/41 ml

Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope with the corresponding sequence of other HIV viruses.

Western-blot analysis of a series of serum samples obtained from a patient infected with HIV-1_((VAU)) is presented in FIG. 2. Nitrocellulose strips, carrying proteins separated by electrophoresis and obtained from purified HIV particles (LAV BLOT, SANOFI DIAGNOSTICS PASTEUR), were incubated with serum samples and their reactivity was evaluated according to the procedures recommended by the manufacturer. The results obtained are the following: strip 1: proteins specific for HIV-2, which have been reacted with serum sample obtained in February 1992 from the HIV-1_((VAU)) patient. Strips 2-7: HIV-1 positive sera; sera from the HIV-_((VAU)) patient: 2: obtained in November 1990; 3: in December 1990; 4: in February 1991; 5: in February 1992; 6: negative control; 7: positive control (serum from an individual infected with HIV-1). The names and the size of the proteins (in kD) are indicated in the margin.

FIG. 3 shows an alignment of the amino acid sequence of the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope with the corresponding sequence of the HIV-1-LAI reference isolate (Wain-Hobson, et al. 1985). The signal peptides, the V3 loop and the gp41 immunodominant epitope are highlighted by shaded rectangles. The site of cleavage between the external envelope glycoprotein gp120 and the transmembrane gp41 is indicated by arrows. The vertical lines between the amino acid letters indicate complete identity, colons (:) indicate high homology, and dots (.) indicate limited homology between individual amino acids. The alignment was performed using the GAP program of the Wisconsin GCG package.

The original version (1.0) of the GAP and BESTFIT programs was written by Paul Haeberli from a detailed study of the publications of Needleman and Vunsch (J. Mol. biol. 48, 443-453 (1970) and of Smith and Waterman (Adv. Appl. Math. 2; 482-489 (1981). The limited alignments were developed by Paul Haeberli and added to the package to constitute the 3.0 version. They were then fused into a single program by Philip Marquess to constitute the 4.0 version. The gap absence penalties in the alignment of the proteins were modified as suggested by Rechid, Vingron and Argos (CABIOS 5; 107-113 (1989)).

The alignment of FIG. 3 shows numerous regions of high divergence, with a few domains retained here and there. These retained regions correspond roughly to the domains also retained in the conventional HIV-1 isolates (Alizon et al. 1986, Benn et al. 1985). Among the divergent domains, the V3 loop, also called principal determinant of neutralization (Javaherian et al. 1990, Javaherian et al. 1989, Matsushita et al. 1988) is clearly one of the most divergent, although the two cysteines defining the loop are retained. The sequence of the cap of the loop, GPGRAF (SEQ ID NO:37) for HIV-1-LAI is GPMAWY (SEQ ID NO:38) in HIV-1_((VAU)). This unit of the cap is identical to that of the Cameroonian group O isolate HIV_((ANT70)) (Van den Heasevelde et al. 1994), but is different from that of the other group O isolate, HIV_(MVP5180) (Gürtler et al. 1994), for which the motif is GPMRWR (SEQ ID NO:39).

In the entire envelope, 29 potential N-glycosylation sites were identified in total, of which 13 are retained compared with other HIV-1 envelope proteins. 19 retained cysteines were also found in total, which indicates that the overall folding architecture of the protein is retained, but 5 nonretained cysteines were found.

FIG. 4 shows the multiple alignment of the immunodominant peptides in the extracellular segment of the transmembrane envelope glycoprotein of various HIV-1 isolates. All the sequences are compared to the HIV-1-LAI reference sequence. Hyphens indicate identity with HIV-1-LAI. The alignment was made with the aid of the PILEUP program of the Wisconsin GCG package.

In the PILEVP program, the assembling strategy represented by the dendrogram is called UPGMA, which means “unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages” (Smith, P. H. A. Sokal, R. R. (1973) in Numerical Taxonomy (pp. 230-234), W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, Calif., USA). Each pair alignment in PILEVP uses the Needleman and Wunsch method (Journal of Molecular Biology 48; 443-453 (1970)).

As shown in FIG. 4, the amino acid sequence of the immunodominant epitope of the external portion of the TM protein (Gnann et al., 1987) is substantially different from that of other HIV-1 and HIV-2 isolates. However, it retained most of the amino acids which were found to be conserved between the HIV-1 and HIV-2 viruses.

It was found that some specific amino acids were conserved only between group O viruses: such is the case for lysine in position 21 in a peptide of 26 amino acids, for threonine in position 7 and asparagine in position 11. These differences could explain the absence of detection of conventional HIV-1 envelope antigens by one of the sera from the HIV-1_((VAU)) patient and also probably by that of the patients infected by other group O viruses. Overall, the comparison between the HIV-1-LAI and HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope sequences showed a 50% identity. The HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope sequence was also compared to that of other HIV representatives including the two members of HIV-1 group O described and sequenced: HIV-1_(ANT70) and HIV-1_(MVP5180) and SIV representatives. The results of this analysis, which are presented in Table 1, establish that HIV-1_((VAU)) belongs to group O. The HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope is 70% identical to the HIV-1_(ANT70) envelope and 71% identical to HIV-1_(MVP5180). Among the most common HIV-1 subtypes, the identity at the level of the envelope is comparable, ranging from 74% to 80%.

HIV-1_(ELI) 77 HIV-1_(MAL) 76 80 HIV-1_(U455) 75 74 76 SIV_(CPZGAB) 61 62 63 63 HIV-2_(ROD) 38 39 39 40 39 SIV_(MAC251) 37 37 38 38 38 74 SIV_(AOMTYO) 37 36 37 38 40 46 47 HIV_(ANT70) 51 52 52 52 53 33 32 33 HIV_(MVP5180) 51 52 54 51 52 36 33 34 70 HIV_(VAU) 50 51 52 51 54 35 34 35 70 71 HIV-1_(LAI) HIV-1_(ELI) HIV-1_(MAL) HIV-1_(U455) SIV_(CPZGAB) HIV-2_(ROD) SIV_(MAC251) SIV_(AOMTYO) HIV_(ANT70) HIV_(MVP5180)

The relationship between HIV-1_((VAU)), other members of the phylogeny of HIV-1 viruses and the two viruses of group O recently described was analyzed by constructing a phylogenetic tree of unweighted parsimony using the nucleotide sequence of the env transmembrane region. The result of this analysis is represented in FIG. 5 in which the numbers indicate the number of nucleotide changes. FIG. 5 shows that HIV-1_((VAU)) is roughly equidistant from the other two group O viruses and that, overall, these three viruses appear to be approximately equidistant from each other. Indeed, the number of nucleotide changes between HIV-1_(MVP5180) and HIV-1_((VAU)) is 218 in the segment of the genome analyzed, whereas the distance is 183 between HIV-1_(MVP5180) and HIV-1_(ANT70), and 213 between HIV-1_(ANT70) and HIV-1_((VAU)). This divergence profile is very similar to that which exists in all the other HIV-1 subtypes, where the number of single nucleotide changes which exist between two different subtypes ranges from 157 (subtype E to subtype F) to 219 (subtype A to subtype D).

Table 1 shows the comparison of the envelope sequences of different viruses related to HIV-1. The numbers indicate the percentage of amino acid identity between the envelope sequences, as calculated using the GAP program of the Wisconsin GCG package. *: in the case of HIV_(ANT70), only the external envelope protein was used in the comparison.

Compositions Comprising HIV-1_((VAU)) Antigens

Generally, the invention relates to any composition which can be used for the in vitro detection of the presence, in a biological fluid, especially from individuals who have been brought into contact with HIV-1_((VAU)), or with antibodies against at least one of the HIV-1_((VAU)) antigens. This composition can be applied to the selective diagnosis of infection by an HIV-1 group O by using diagnostic techniques such as those described in Patent Applications EP 84401,834 and EP 87400,151,4. Within the context of the present invention, any constituent comprising antigenic determinants capable of being recognized by antibodies produced against HIV-1_((VAU)) is used, for example recombinant antigens or peptides or chemically synthesized peptides defined from the sequence of the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope. In this regard, the invention relates more particularly to compositions containing at least one of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus envelope proteins. There may be mentioned, by way of examples of compositions, those which contain proteins, glycoproteins or peptides from the envelope protein corresponding to the entire 590-620 region of the HIV-1_((VAU)) gp41 protein or to the parts of this region which are specific for HIV-1_((VAU)) such as the peptides -TFIQN- (SEQ ID NO:40) or -WGCKNR- (SEQ ID NO:41).

The invention also relates to compositions combining recombinant or synthetic HIV-1_((VAU)) proteins and/or glycoproteins and/or peptides with proteins and/or glycoproteins and/or peptides from HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 and/or from another HIV-1 group O which are obtained by extraction or in lysates or by recombination or by chemical synthesis and/or peptides which are derived from these proteins or glycoproteins and which are capable of being recognized by antibodies induced by the HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 and/or HIV-1 group O virus.

The diagnostic compositions containing antigenic determinants capable of being recognized by antibodies directed against HIV-1_((VAU)), in particular the peptide compositions, may be included in or combined with compositions or kits already available for detecting infection by HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 retroviruses, so as to extend the detection range of the kits to the detection of HIV-1 group O retroviruses.

By Way of Nonlimiting Examples:

-   -   either core proteins, particularly the gag, pol, HIV-1 and HIV-2         proteins or peptides thereof, and HIV-1_((VAU)), envelope         proteins or peptides,     -   or HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins, HIV-2 envelope glycoproteins         and HIV-_((VAU)), envelope glycoproteins,     -   or mixtures of HIV-1 proteins and/or glycoproteins, HIV-2         proteins and/or glycoproteins and HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope         proteins and/or glycoproteins.

It is important to note that, although the antibodies from patients infected with HIV-1 group O viruses react strongly with gag and pol antigens from HIV-1 group M viruses, their reactivity is practically zero with group M virus envelope antigens. It is therefore important that the composition of the present invention comprise at least one protein or one peptide of the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope so that this virus can be detected with certainty.

Such compositions, when used in diagnosis, consequently help the diagnosis of AIDS or of the symptoms associated with it, which extend over a broader spectrum of causative etiological agents. It goes without saying that the use of diagnostic compositions which contain only HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope proteins and/or glycoproteins is nonetheless useful for the more selective detection of the category of retrovirus which may be held responsible for the disease.

Methods and Kits for the Diagnosis of Infections Caused Especially by the HIV-1_((VAU)) Virus

The present invention relates to a method for the in vitro diagnosis of infection caused by HIV viruses, etiological agents of AIDS and related syndromes, which comprises bringing a serum or another biological medium, obtained from a patient or subject being subjected to the diagnosis, into contact with a composition containing at least one protein, glycoprotein or peptide from HIV-1_((VAU)), and detecting a possible immunological reaction. Examples of such compositions were described above.

Preferred methods involve, for example, immunofluorescence or ELISA type immunoenzymic reactions. The detections may be effected by direct or indirect immunofluorescence measurements or direct or indirect immunoenzymic assays.

Such detections comprise for example:

-   -   depositing defined quantities of the extract or of the desired         antigenic compositions in accordance with the present invention         into the wells of a microplate;     -   introducing into each well a serum, diluted or undiluted, which         is capable of containing the antibodies, the presence of which         has to be detected in vitro;     -   incubating the microplate;     -   carefully washing the microplate with an appropriate buffer;     -   introducing into the wells of the microplate specific labeled         antibodies to human immunoglobulin, the labeling being performed         with an enzyme chosen from those which are capable of         hydrolyzing a substrate such that the latter then undergoes         modification of its absorption of radiation, at least in a         defined wavelength band, and     -   detecting, preferably in a comparative manner relative to a         control, the extent of the hydrolysis of the substrate as a         measure of the potential risks or of the actual presence of the         infection.

The present invention also relates to kits or boxes for the diagnosis of HIV-1_((VAU)) virus infection, which comprise in particular:

-   -   an extract, a more purified fraction, or a synthetic antigen         derived from the types of viruses indicated above, this extract         fraction or antigen being labeled, for example, radioactively,         enzymically, fluorescently or otherwise,     -   antibodies to human immunoglobulins or a protein A (which is         advantageously attached to a support which is insoluble in         water) such as agarose beads for example) or microplate wells,         and the like),     -   optionally, a sample of biological fluid or cells obtained from         a negative control subject;     -   buffers and, where appropriate, substrates for visualizing the         label.

The subject of the invention is also immunogenic compositions which are capable of inducing the formation of antibodies recognizing antigens which can be obtained by chemical synthesis or by recombination.

Serology

The capacity of the serum antibodies from the patient infected with HIV-1_((VAU)) to react with HIV-1 antigenic preparations was evaluated using various commercially available kits: Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, (Genelavia Mixt) Abbott, Wellcome, and Behring. The reactivity of these antibodies with various HIV-1 proteins was examined using the Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur Western-blot kit, following the procedures recommended by the manufacturer.

More precisely, the patient's serum was examined several times using HIV-1 specific ELISA kits. It was first tested and proved to be positive in 1990, being noted 7.33 (this figure corresponds to the ratio of the measured OD to the background OD) with the Sanofi. Diagnostics Pasteur kit, 3.50 with the Abbott kit and 2.70 with the Wellcome kit. During the use of reagents specific both for HIV-1 and HIV-2, the serum was noted 1.42 with the Behring kit and 4.40 with the Wellcome kit.

The capacity of the patient's serum to react on different dates with different HIV-1 structural proteins was studied using the HIV-1 LAV.BLOT immunoblot assay, a test marketed by Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur. As shown in FIG. 5 with all the serum samples tested, only a very weak reactivity of the serum with the HIV-1 env proteins gp160 and gp120 was noted. However, the serum reacted strongly with the HIV-1 gag proteins p55 (gag precursor) and p24 (CA), and with the pol products p66 (RT) and p34 (IN). By HIV-2 immunoblotting, only a very weak reactivity was detected with the gag p26.

This illustrates that the detection of antibodies specific for group O with commercially available serum diagnostic kits should be carefully controlled. Although serum antibodies from patients infected with group O viruses show strong cross-reactions with the group M gag and pol antigens, they show few or no reactions with the group M envelope antigens. Consequently, it is possible to assume that a significant proportion of these patients might not be detected using some kits based on group M envelope antigenic reagents. Indeed, in a recent preliminary study of several sera from patients infected with group O, it was found that the capacity to detect antibodies specific for group O was very different depending on the detection kit used (Loussert-Ajaka, I., Ly, T. D., Chaix, M. L., Ingrand, D., Saragosti, S., Courrouce, A. M., Brun-Vézinet, F. and Simon, F. (1994). HIV-1/HIV-2 seronegativity in HIV-1 subtype O infected patients. Lancet. 343, 1393-1394.). This implies that a careful and extensive study of the reactivity of a large number of group O sera with all the diagnostic kits available on the market is necessary.

Compositions comprising polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies prepared from recombinant or synthetic antigens from the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus.

The invention relates to a serum capable of being produced in animals by inoculating them with HIV-1_((VAU)), particularly the antigenic epitopes of HIV-1_((VAU)) and more particularly the antigenic epitopes of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus envelope protein. The invention relates more particularly to the polyclonal antibodies more specifically oriented against each of the antigens, especially proteins or glycoproteins of the virus. It also relates to monoclonal antibodies produced by various techniques, these monoclonal antibodies being respectively oriented more specifically against the various HIV-1_((VAU)) proteins, particularly the HIV-1_((VAU)) envelope proteins.

These polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies can be used in various applications. There may be mentioned essentially their use for neutralizing the corresponding proteins, or even for inhibiting the infectivity of the whole virus. They may also be used for example to detect viral antigens in biological preparations or to carry out procedures for purifying the corresponding proteins and/or glycoproteins, for example during their use in affinity chromatography columns.

By way of example, anti-envelope antibodies or anti-gag antibodies are reagents which can be used in diagnosis, in particular for the detection of HIV-1 group O particles by antigen capture ELISA.

The invention relates to antibodies directed against one or more HIV-1_((VAU)) viral antigens produced from amino acid sequences of HIV-1_((VAU)). Techniques for obtaining antibodies from antigenic epitopes similar to the antigenic epitopes of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus of the present invention have been described previously.

The technique for the preparation of antibodies which is described in the publication by Ulmer et al., 1993, may be used by persons skilled in the art to prepare the antibodies of the present invention, the modifications which make it possible to adapt this technique to the antigens of the present invention forming part of the knowledge of persons skilled in the art.

Study of the Immunoreactivity of the vau Peptide

The immunoreactivity of the vau peptide was confirmed, after experimental ELISA plates had been prepared, according to a procedure established for a screening test for anti-HIV antibodies. This test is based on the detection of a solid phase prepared with the peptide which mimics the immunodominant epitope of the envelope glycoprotein of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O virus, VAU isolate. The implementation of the test was modeled on the procedure proposed by the Genelavia® Mixt kit, using the reagents in that kit. The experimental data collated in the two tables of FIGS. 20A-C and 21A-C show that:

a) the four sera taken from patients contaminated with the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O virus are very reactive with the vau peptide;

b) the ten sera supposedly taken from patients contaminated with the HIV-1 (group or subgroup) O virus, among the 19 sera sent out by the Pasteur Institute of Yacounde, are also highly reactive with this same peptide;

c) the sera (4 samples) taken from individuals contaminated with the HIV-1 subtype B virus (in the acute phase) are not reactive with the vau peptide;

d) the sera taken from asymptomatic blood donors (48 samples tested) are not reactive with the vau peptide; These experimental data, although limited (in view of the paucity of HIV-1 group (or subgroup O) antibody-positive samples), bear witness to the sensitivity and specificity of the peptide selected.

From the above text, it follows that the invention also relates to the detection of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus or of a variant by virtue of the use of the antibodies described above in a method involving various stages, these stages being specifically intended to reveal the characteristic properties of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus.

The invention also relates to the detection of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus by molecular hybridization.

Generally, this method for detecting the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus or a variant in serum samples or samples of other biological fluids or tissues, obtained from patients liable to be carriers of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus, comprises the following stages:

-   -   the manufacture of at least one optionally labeled probe;     -   at least one hybridization stage performed under conditions         permitting hybridization by bringing the nucleic acid of the         suspect patient's sample into contact with said labeled probe         and optionally immobilizing the complex formed on an appropriate         solid support,     -   where appropriate, washing said solid support with a suitable         washing solution,     -   the detection of said complex and therefore of the presence or         otherwise of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus by an appropriate detection         method known to those skilled in the art.

In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the abovementioned hybridization is performed under nonstringent conditions and the membrane is washed under conditions adapted to those for the hybridization. By using serology or a gene amplification technique such as specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), the extent of the HIV-1 group O epidemic was precisely evaluated. It was found that 5 to 10% of patients infected with HIV-1 in Cameroon are in fact infected with group O viruses. However, apart from the virus isolate described here, the propagation of the group O virus outside West Central Africa has not been documented. The patient from whom HIV-1_((VAU)) was isolated has always lived in France and has never traveled to Africa. Up until now, we have no precise proof relating to the origin of her infection, but this case indicates that a degree of propagation of the group O viruses in Europe has already occurred.

The invention also relates to a process of detection and discrimination, in a biological sample, between antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and antibodies characteristic of a retrovirus of the HIV-1-M type, characterized by placing this biological sample in contact with a peptide which does not react with the antibodies characteristic of a retrovirus of the HIV-1-M type, in particular one chosen from the peptides (1), (2), (3), (4), (5 a), (5b), (9) and (10) described above.

Also, the invention relates to a process of detection and discrimination, in a biological sample, between antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and antibodies characteristic of a retrovirus of the HIV-1-M type, characterized by placing this biological sample in contact with the peptide derived from one of the HIV-1 M viruses taken into consideration in FIGS. 8 and 9 and homologous to a peptide chosen from the peptides (1), (2), (3), (4), (5a), (5b), (9) and (10), the sequence of this homologous peptide resulting from vertical alignments of its own successive amino acids which are themselves contained in the pertinent peptide sequence relative to the corresponding HIV-1-M virus and represented in FIG. 8 or 9 with the successive amino acids of the sequence of the peptide chosen, as also follows from FIG. 8 or 9.

According to the present invention, the process of detection and discrimination between infection by an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus is characterized by placing serum, obtained from individuals subjected to an AIDS diagnostic test, in contact, in particular, with the peptide RILAVERY (SEQ ID NO:35). In addition, the process for detection of infection due either to an HIV-1 subgroup O or HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus is characterized by the use of mixtures of two categories of peptides, those of the first category corresponding to the peptides (1), (2), (3), (4), (5a), (5b), (9) and (10).

Moreover, the process for discrimination between an infection due to an HIV-1-O DUR retrovirus and an infection due to another type of HIV-1-O retrovirus, is characterized by placing the biological test sample in contact with any of the peptides (11) to (15) or of the peptides (17) to (20).

Alternatively, it is a process for discrimination between an infection by an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus, using a serine protease whose cleaving action is carried out on an SR dipeptide, and comprising the detection of a cleavage or of a non-cleavage of the V3 loop of gp 120 of the retrovirus, depending on whether this retrovirus is an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus or an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus.

The invention also relates to a composition for detection and discrimination, in a biological sample, between an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus and an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, comprising a mixture of two categories of peptides, the first being in particular those identified (1), (2), (3), (4), (5a), (5b), (9) and (10). Monoclonal antibodies specific for the sequences of each of the peptides (1) to (20) also fall within the scope of the present invention.

The invention also relates to a plasmid chosen from those which were deposited at the CNCM on 24 Feb. 1995 under the references I-1548, I-1549 and I-1550.

The invention is also directed towards nucleic acids containing a sequence which codes for each of the peptides (1) to (20) defined in the present invention.

Among the preferred nucleic acid sequences, the nucleotide sequences represented in FIG. 10, 11 or 12 will be chosen.

The invention also relates to vectors containing a nucleic acid as defined above.

The invention is also directed towards cells liable to contain any one of said nucleic acids or of said vectors.

The present invention also relates to a virus such as that deposited on 23 Feb. 1995 at the CNCM under the reference I-1542.

A virus also falling within the scope of the invention is a virus of the same group as the above, characterized in that consensus peptides of this virus are recognized by antibodies which specifically recognize a polypeptide or a peptide defined above. The genomic RNA of this virus also falls within the scope of the invention. Also falling within the scope of the invention is a box or kit for detection of antibodies in the serum or any other biological sample from a patient liable to be infected with a human retrovirus of the HIV type, characterized in that it comprises:

-   -   at least one polypeptide or one peptide having, in particular,         as its sequence one of the sequences (1) to (20) described         above.     -   means allowing the reaction for formation of the immunological         complex between the polypeptide(s) or the peptide(s) and the         antibodies which may be present in the biological sample to be         tested, for example one or more incubation buffers, if needed,     -   a negative control sample,     -   means for visualizing the antigen/antibody complex formed.

Also according to the invention, this kit contains, in addition, at least one consensus peptide or polypeptide derived from another HIV strain or from a peptide or polypeptide comprising

either an amino acid sequence which is separate from the sequence of this polypeptide or peptide, in which one or more amino acids are replaced with other amino acids, with the proviso that the peptide or polypeptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the consensus peptide or polypeptide,

or an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids have been deleted or added, with the proviso that the peptide or polypeptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the consensus peptide or polypeptide.

Preferably, a kit according to the invention will contain, in addition, at least one peptide or polypeptide derived from another HIV strain, preferably the HIV-LAI strain.

The invention also relates to a polypeptide composition for the in vitro diagnosis of an infection due to a retrovirus according to the invention, or to one of its variants, this diagnosis being made on a biological sample liable to contain antibodies formed after said infection. This composition is characterized in that it comprises at least one of the peptides (1) to (20).

The biological sample may consist in particular of blood, plasma, serum or any other biological extract. The above compositions may be used for the detection of antibodies in one of the abovementioned biological samples.

The invention is therefore also directed toward a method for the in vitro diagnosis of an infection due specifically to a retrovirus of the HIV type, characterized by the steps of:

-   -   placing a biological sample, which is liable to contain         antibodies produced after an infection by an HIV-1 group (or         subgroup) O retrovirus, in contact with a peptide as defined         above, or with a peptide composition as defined above, under         suitable conditions which allow the formation of an         immunological complex of the antigen/antibody type,     -   detection of the possible presence of the complex.

The invention moreover relates to an immunogenic composition, characterized in that it comprises at least one peptide in combination with a pharmaceutical vehicle which is acceptable for making up vaccines.

The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of capsid proteins and gp41 and gp 120 glycoproteins of a retroviral strain according to the invention, the process being characterized by the following steps:

-   -   lysis of the cells infected with an HIV-1 retrovirus according         to the invention and separation of the supernatant and of the         infected cells or lysis of the viral pellets prepared by         centrifugation,     -   deposition of the cell extract and/or of the viral extract on an         immunoadsorbant containing purified antibodies, which are         obtained from the serum of an individual infected by a         retrovirus according to the invention and advantageously         attached to a suitable support, said serum of the infected         individual having the capacity to react strongly with envelope         proteins of the virus according to the invention,     -   incubation in the presence of a buffer and for a sufficiently         long period to obtain the formation of an antigen/antibody         immunological complex,     -   washing of the immunoadsorbant with a buffer in order to remove         the molecules not retained on the support,     -   recovery of the desired antigenic proteins. According to a first         embodiment of this preparation process, the separation and the         recovery of the capsid proteins and of the gp41 and gp120         glycoproteins of HIV-1 DUR are carried out by electrophoresis         and by electroreduction of the proteins.

According to another embodiment of this preparation process, the proteins are recovered by:

-   -   elution of the proteins attached to the above immunoadsorbant,     -   purification of the products thus eluted on a chromatography         column containing, attached to the separation support,         antibodies which recognize the capsid proteins and the gp41 and         gp120 glycoproteins of HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR.

Also falling within the scope of the invention is a process for the production of a peptide or polypeptide according to the invention, this peptide or polypeptide being obtained

-   -   either by expression of a nucleic acid of the invention,     -   or by chemical synthesis, by addition of amino acids until this         peptide or this polypeptide is obtained.

The standard principles and processes of genetic engineering may be used here (“Molecular cloning”, Sambrook, Fritsch, Maniatis, CSH 1989).

Also falling within the scope of the invention is a process for the production of a nucleic acid defined above, which may be produced either by isolation from a virus of the invention, or by chemical synthesis, or by using techniques of in vitro amplification of nucleic acids from specific primers.

Oligonucleotide primers also according to the invention have a sequence consisting of at least eight consecutive nucleotides of the following nucleotide sequences:

ATT CCA ATA CAC TAT TGT GCT CCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 42) AAA GAA TTC TCC ATG ACT GTT AAA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 43) GGT ATA GTG CAA CAG CAG GAC AAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 44) AGA GGC CCA TTC ATC TAA CTC-3′. (SEQ ID NO: 45)

These primers may be used in a gene amplification process, for example by PCR or an equivalent technique, of a nucleotide sequence coding for a peptide of the invention. Tests carried out with these primers gave conclusive results.

Also, the invention relates to a kit allowing amplification by PCR or an equivalent technique described above.

Also falling within the scope of the present invention is a process for detection of the presence, in a biological sample, of nucleic acid(s) characteristic of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR retrovirus, including a retrovirus according to the invention. This process comprises a placing in contact of a cDNA formed from RNA(s) contained in this biological sample, under conditions allowing the hybridization of this cDNA with the retroviral genome, and the execution of a gene amplification on this viral sample:

The invention also relates to a viral lysate as obtained by lysis of cells infected with a virus according to the invention.

A protein extract from an HIV-1_((DUR)) (or HIV-1_((VAU))) strain containing in particular a peptide or a polypeptide as defined above also falls within the scope of the-invention.

The invention relates to specific peptides obtained from the structure of HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR or from variants of this retrovirus and which make it possible either to discriminate, depending on the case,

-   -   globally between HIVs-1 belonging to the category O and HIVs-1         belonging to the category M,     -   or, more specifically, between viruses belonging to the subgroup         characteristic of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR and other         viruses of the subgroup O,

or, on the other hand, to recognize most, if not all, of the retroviruses both of the group (or subgroup) O and of the subgroup M.

Also falling within the scope of the invention are the corresponding peptides obtained from corresponding structural proteins of other HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O or HIV-1 subgroup M viruses, in particular those derived from the GAG, gp120 and gp41 structural proteins whose parts are indicated in the diagrams, these homologous peptides ensuing from their being placed in alignment, as also results from the diagrams with the peptides obtained from the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR, more particularly identified in the present text. Similarly, certain homologous peptides may be used in those tests which make it possible to carry out the abovementioned discriminations, it being understood in this case that they are then used in place of the corresponding peptides, derived from the GAG, gp120 and gp41 structural proteins.

Determination of Oligonucleotides Specific for the O Group

Using the VAU sequence and its correlation with the MVP5180 and ANT70 sequences, oligonucleotide primers were defined which endeavor to be specific for the subgroup in its entirety for the V3 region and the gp41 region. These primers made it possible to amplify the DUR strain and consequently constituted one solution to the amplification problem encountered. The position and the sequence of these HIV subgroup O primers are represented in FIGS. 13B and A, respectively. These primers make it possible to obtain an amplification band which is visible on staining with ethidium bromide, with a single step of 30 cycles of PCR. Partial sequences were obtained:

-   -   GAG: 513 base pairs (171 amino acids)=SEQ ID NO:95 and SEQ ID         NO:96, FIGS. 10A and B     -   gp120 V3 loop: 525 base pairs (75 amino acids)=SEQ ID NO:97 and         SEQ ID NO:98, FIGS. 11A and B     -   gp41 immunodominant region: 312 base pairs (104 amino acids)=SEQ         ID NO:99 and SEQ ID NO:100, FIGS. 12A and B.

Nucleotide (FIGS. 15A-C) and protein (FIGS. 16A-C) comparisons of the DUR sequences with the MVP5180, ANT and VAU sequences for the O subgroup, LAI for the HIV-1 consensus sequence, representative African HIV-1 MAL sequence, and CPZ for the CIV of the Gabonese chimpanzee, show that DUR is as remote from the otter published HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O strains as the latter are from each other.

The differences are less in the GAG region and maximal in the region of the V3 loop of gp120, where the protein comparison reaches a difference of 400 (FIG. 16). The phylogenic trees confirm, on the one hand, that the DUR strain forms part of the O subgroup, and, on the other hand, the importance of the differences between the various O strains described, without, however, subtype branching emerging clearly (FIG. 17).

Comparison of the GAG Sequences:

On comparison of the GAG sequence obtained with the other two O strains published, ANT70 and MVP5180, as well as with the representative sequences of the M group (FIG. 8), it was possible to observe that an O consensus sequence exists in several regions, which is distinct from the M consensus sequence in the same regions. Two hypervariable regions, which are more variable for O than for M, and a few point differences for one or the other strain may also be found. Nevertheless, the regions SPRT . . . SEGA, MLNAI . . . KEVIN, GPLPP . . . QQEQI and VGD . . . SPV appear to discriminate between the O consensus sequence and the M consensus sequence.

The regions QQA and LWTTRAGNP (SEQ ID NO:9) are hypervariable regions. The HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR strain is conspicuously different in three positions with respect to the M and O consensus sequence (L for 1 and twice for E) and takes a specific amino acid in three isolated hypervariable positions, V position L9; A position A77; L position 110. In addition, it is possible to define in the GAG region segments common to the O group and to the M group, such as SPRTLNAWVK (SEQ ID NO: 15), GSDIAGTTST (SEQ ID NO:16) and QGPKEPFRDYVDRF (SEQ ID NO:17).

Comparison of the Sequences of the V3 Loop

This comparative study revealed considerable differences of up to 56% for protein differences with the HIV-1 subgroup M consensus sequence, and 35 to 42% with the other HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O consensus sequences.

The alignments of peptide sequences in the regions of the V3 loop of gp 120 and in the immunodominant region of gp41 is given in FIG. 9. The sequence of the interior of the V3 loop of the DUR strain differs substantially from that of the HIV-1 subgroup M consensus sequence. It shares the motif GPMAWYSM (SEQ ID NO:28) with the VAU and ANT70 strains but not with the MVP strain, which has two substitutions: R for A and R for Y.

The left and right parts of the rest of the V3 loop are markedly different from all the other HIVs known and do not leave it possible to imagine other cross-reactivities. Furthermore, the V3 loop of DUR is one amino acid longer than the other O sequences, which are themselves another one amino acid longer than the sequences of the HIV-1 M group.

Comparison of the Alignments Concerning the Immunodominant Region of gp41

The “mini loop” of the DUR strain, having the sequence CRGKAIC (SEQ ID NO:31), proved to be very specific for this strain: it might constitute an epitope (see FIG. 9). In addition, this sequence might be likely to be involved in the modification of the conditions of unfolding of the gp41 glycoprotein, and consequently in the infectiousness of the strain.

A long sequence of 11 amino acids flanking this loop on the left is identical to the VAU sequence. A polymorphism of the DUR strain may be noted for an S or T position according to the clones analyzed.

Corresponding peptides obtained from other known retroviral strains are also represented in FIG. 9.

The DUR strain also makes it possible to define an HIV subgroup O consensus sequence of the gp41 region, several sufficiently long homologous regions of which might be used. These homologous regions are, inter alia: RL*ALET, QNQQ, LWGC and CYTV (representing a variable amino acid).

Serological Correlations:

The anti-DUR antiserum does not react with the peptides of the V3 loop of the HIV-1-M consensus sequence, of HIV-1 MAL, of HIV-1 CPZ or of HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O MVP5180 but does, however, react with the peptide of the V3 loop of HIV-1-O ANT70 as seen in FIG. 14A. As regards the gp41 immunodominant region, this does not react with the “standard” HIV-1 subgroup M consensus sequence as seen in FIG. 14B, but does, however, react, weakly but surprisingly, with the HIV-1 subgroup M right-extended consensus sequence.

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1. HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retroviral protein, or natural or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognized by antibodies which may be isolated from serum obtained after an infection with an HIV-1 group O VAU strain, or an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR strain. 2-72. (canceled)
 73. Protein, polypeptide or peptide according to claim 1, characterized in that it may be obtained by expression, in a host cell, of a nucleotide sequence, more particularly DNA and cloned DNA fragments which may be obtained from RNA, from cDNA or from primers which may be used for gene amplification, derived from RNA or from DNA of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, said nucleotide sequence being characterized in that it comprises the sequence corresponding to SEQ ID No. 5 as well as any portion of that sequence or variant of that portion which is capable of hybridizing with the corresponding DNA or RNA of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O virus, and in that said protein comprises the amino acid sequence between residues 1 and 526 of SEQ ID No. 6 as well as any peptide, polypeptide, glycoprotein or variant derived from said sequence having an epitope which may be recognized by antibodies induced by the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus.
 74. Protein, polypeptide or peptide according to claim 1, characterized in that it may be obtained by expression, in a host cell, of a nucleotide sequence, and in that said protein comprises the amino acid sequence between residues 527 to 877 of SEQ ID No. 7 as well as any peptide, polypeptide, glycoprotein or variant derived from said sequence having a epitope which may be recognized by antibodies induced by the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus.
 75. Peptide or polypeptide according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the sequence CKNRLIC or in particular the sequence RLLALETFIQNWWLLNLWGCKNRLIC or a variant of that sequence such as the sequence RLWALETLIQNQQRLNLWGCKGKLIC, the sequence RLLALETLLQNQQLLSLWGCKGKLVC, the sequence RARLLALETFIQNQQLLNLWGCKNRLICYTSVKWNKT, the sequence CERPGNQKIMAGPMAWYS MALSNTKGDTRAAYC or the sequence GPMAWY.
 76. Synthetic peptide, characterized in that it is a protein fragment according to claim 1, in that it is obtained from the sequence SEQ ID No. 6 or from the sequence SEQ ID No. 7 and in that it is recognized by antibodies induced against an HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus or variant of this fragment capable of being recognized by antibodies induced by an HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus.
 77. Protein, polypeptide or peptide according to claim 1, characterized in that said protein is a protein of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O_((DUR)) virus, deposited on 23 Feb. 1995 at the CNCM under the reference I-1542 or a natural or synthetic peptide or polypeptide comprising at least a part of said protein or a peptide whose sequence is distinguished from that of the above by substitution, deletion or addition of amino acids, this separate peptide nevertheless retaining the antigenic characteristics of the above one.
 78. Peptide according to claim 77, containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids whose entire consecutive amino acid sequence is contained in the GAG sequence represented in FIG. 8 or in an immunologically similar AG sequence obtained from a variant of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR virus, said immunologically similar sequence being recognized by antibodies which also specifically recognize at least one of the sequences AHPQQA, LWTTRAGNP contained in the GAG sequence of FIG.
 8. 79. Peptide according to claim 78, characterized in that it consists of a peptide whose amino acid sequence is contained either in one of the following sequences: SPRTLNAWVKAVEEKAFNPEIIPMFMALSEGA (1) MLNAIGGHQGALQVLKEVIN (2) GPLPPGQIREPTGSDIAGTTSTQQEQI (3) IPVGDIYRKWIVLGLNKMVKMYSPVSILDI (4) QGPKEPFRDYVDRFYKTKLAE (5) AHPQQA (5a) LWTTRAGNP (5b)

or in the corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids of one of said sequences.
 80. Peptide according to claim 79, characterized in that it consists of a peptide whose amino acid sequence is contained either in one of the following sequences: SPRTLNAWVK (6) GSDIAGTTST (7) QGPKEPFRDYVDRF (8)

or in the corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least four consecutive amino acids of one of said sequences.
 81. Peptide according to claim 79, characterized in that it contains the following amino acid sequence: NPEI. (9)


82. Peptide according to claim 79, characterized in that it contains the following amino acid sequence: AVEEKAFNPEIIPMFM. (10)


83. Peptide according to claim 77, containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids, whose entire sequence is contained in the sequence of the region of the V3 loop of gp120 represented in FIG. 9 or in the corresponding immunologically similar sequence obtained from a variant of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR virus, said immunologically similar sequence being recognized by antibodies which also specifically recognize at least one of the sequences: KEIKI, (12) EREGKGAN, (13) CVRPGNNSVKEIKI, (14) QIEREGKGANSR. (15)


84. Peptide according to claim 83, containing: a) either the sequence CVRPGNNSVKEIKIGPMAWYSMQIEREGKGANSRTAFC (11) or a part of this sequence which contains at least 4 amino acids b) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from the sequence of a) in which one or more amino acids are replaced with two amino acids, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity which an antiserum against the above said peptide, c) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from a) or b), in which one or more amino acids have been deleted or added, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity which an antiserum against the peptide of a), d) or the corresponding immunologically similar sequence or part of sequence.
 85. Peptide according to claim 84, which contains the sequence KEIKI (12).
 86. Peptide according to claim 84, which contains the sequence EREGKGAN (13).
 87. Peptide according to claim 84, which contains either the amino acid sequence CVRPGNNSFKEIKI (14) or the sequence QIEREGKGANSR (15).
 88. Peptide according to claim 84, which comprises the sequence GPMAWYSM (16).
 89. Peptide according to claim 77, containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids, whose entire sequence is contained in the sequence of the immunodominant region of gp41 represented in FIG. 9 or in the corresponding immunologically similar sequence, obtained from a variant of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR virus, said immunologically similar sequence being recognized by antibodies which also specifically recognize at last one of the sequences: RLLALETLMQNQQL, (17) LNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWNETWG, (18) CRGKAI, (19) SVQWN, (20) RLLALETLMONQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTS, (21) QNQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWN. (22)


90. Peptide according to claim 89, containing the sequence RLLALETLMQNQQL (17) LNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWNETWG (18) or part of this peptide containing: a) either the sequence CRGKAI (19) or the sequence SVQWN (20) in which Q is, where appropriate, replaced by a different amino acid, which is nevertheless also different from K, or the two sequences at the same time, b) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from the sequence of a) in which one or more amino acids are replaced with two amino acids, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the peptide of a), c) or an amino acid sequence which is separate from a) or b), in which one or more amino acids have been deleted or added, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the peptide of a), d) or in the corresponding immunologically similar sequence or part of sequence.
 91. Peptide according to claim 90, characterized in that its N-terminal sequence which contains at least 8 amino acids is not immunologically recognized by antibodies formed against the sequence RILAVERY contained in the immunodominant region of gp41 of the HIV-1-LAI strain.
 92. Peptide according to claim 90, characterized in that it is not recognized by antibodies formed against the peptide SGKLIC of the HIV-1-LAI strain.
 93. Peptide according to claim 90, characterized in that it contains one or the other of the following two sequences: RLLALETLMONQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTS (21) QNQQLLNLWGCRGKAICYTSVQWN. (22)


94. Nucleotide sequence, more particularly DNA and cloned DNA fragments which may be obtained from RNA, from cDNA or from primers which may be used for gene amplification, derived from the RNA or the DNA of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, said nucleotide sequence being characterized in that it comprises the sequence corresponding to one of the sequences Seq ID No. 5, Seq ID No. 9, Seq ID No 10 or Seq ID No. 11, as well as any portion of this sequence or variant of this portion which is capable of hybridizing with the corresponding DNA or RNA of the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O virus.
 95. Nucleotide sequence according to claim 94, characterized in that it is DNA or DNA fragments obtained from RNA, from cDNA or from primers for gene amplification, derived from the RNA or the DNA of the HIV-1_((VAU)) or HIV-1_((DUR)) retrovirus, the sequence comprising the sequence corresponding to Seq Id No. 5 as well as any portion of this sequence or variant of this portion which is capable of hybridizing with the corresponding DNA or RNA of the HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus, or the sequence comprising the sequence corresponding to Seq ID No. 9 or Seq ID No. 10 or Seq ID No. 11, as well as any portion of this sequence or variant of this portion which is capable of hybridizing with the corresponding DNA or RNA of the HIV-1_((DUR)) retrovirus.
 96. Nucleotide sequence according to claim 94, characterized in that said sequence is chosen from the group of sequences corresponding to Seq ID No. 1, Seq ID No. 2, Seq ID No. 3 and Seq ID No.
 4. 97. Nucleotide sequence, characterized in that it comprises the sequence of nucleotides corresponding to SEQ ID No. 7 and in that it codes for the integrase of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, in particular of an HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus, or nucleotide sequence which hybridizes with the sequence containing the sequence SEQ ID No.
 7. 98. Oligonucleotide comprising at least 9 nucleotides, as obtained from a nucleotide sequence according to claim 94, which is capable of being used as a primer for the gene amplification of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus.
 99. Oligonucleotide according to claim 98, having a sequence consisting of at least nine consecutive nucleotides of the following nucleotide sequences: ATT CCA ATA CAC TAT TGT GCT CCA-3′ AAA GAA TTC TCC ATG ACT GTT AAA-3′ GGT ATA GTG CAA CAG CAG GAC AAC-3′ AGA GGC CCA TTC ATC TAA CTC-3′


100. Oligonucleotide, characterized in that it may be used during a process of gene amplification of a nucleotide sequence coding for a peptide according to claim
 77. 101. Nucleotide sequence which may be used as a probe, characterized in that it hybridizes under highly stringent hybridization conditions with the DNA produced by gene amplification by means of primers according to claim
 98. 102. Composition for the detection of the presence or absence of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, in particular the HIV-1_((VAU)) and/or HIV-1_((DUR)) retrovirus, in samples of serum or of another biological liquids or tissue obtained from patients suspected of being carriers of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, said composition being characterized in that it comprises at least one probe obtained from a nucleotide sequence derived from the genome of the HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus, particularly an HIV-1_((VAU)) DNA fragment containing the env region or a part of the env region of the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus, of a variant of the HIV-1_((VAU)) as defined in claim 94, and/or a probe obtained from a nucleotide sequence derived from the genome of the HIV-1_((DUR)) virus, the HIV-1_((DUR)) DNA containing the env region or a part of the env region and a part of the GAG region of the HIV-1_((DUR)) virus as defined (lacuna) claim
 94. 103. Composition according to claim 83, characterized in that said composition also comprises a probe obtained from a nucleotide sequence obtained from HIV-1 not belonging to the O subgroup and/or from HIV-2.
 104. Composition for the detection of the presence or absence of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, in particular the HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus and/or the HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O_((DUR)) retrovirus in a biological sample, said composition being characterized in that it comprises at least two nucleotide sequences according to claim 94, and at least two nucleotide sequences according to claim 94, which are respectively derived from the genome of the HIV-1_((VAU)) and HIV-1_((DUR)) viruses, which sequences can be used as primers for amplification, in particular by PCR, of the DNA and/or the RNA of HIV-1 retrovirus of the O subgroup and in particular of HIV-1_((VAU)) and HIV-1_((DUR)).
 105. Nucleotide sequence, characterized in that it is an RNA sequence corresponding to a DNA sequence according to claim
 94. 106. Composition for the in vitro detection of the presence, in a human biological sample, of anti-HIV-1_((VAU)) and anti-HIV-1_((DUR)) antibodies, said composition comprising at least one antigen comprising a protein, a glycoprotein, a polypeptide or a peptide of the envelope protein of an HIV-1_((VAU)) retrovirus as defined in claim 1 and/or of the sequence comprising the sequence corresponding to Seq ID No. 9 or Seq ID No. 10 or Seq ID No. 11, as well as any portion of this sequence or variant of this portion which is capable of hybridizing with the corresponding DNA or RNA of the HIV-1_((DUR)) virus.
 107. Composition according to claim 106, characterized in that it also comprises an antigen such as a protein, a glycoprotein, a polypeptide or a peptide of an HIV-1 virus not belonging to the subgroup O and/or of an HIV-2 virus or a peptide derived from an HIV-1 virus not belonging to the subgroup O and/or of an HIV-2 virus having an epitope which may be recognized by the antibodies induced by the HIV-1 virus not belonging to the subgroup O and/or the HIV-2 virus.
 108. Composition according to claim 107, characterized in that the proteins and/or glycoproteins of HIV-1 not belonging to the subgroup O and/or of HIV-2 are gag or pol proteins or peptides thereof.
 109. Composition according to claim 108, characterized in that the proteins and/or glycoproteins of HIV-1 not belonging to the subgroup O and/or of HIV-2 are envelope glycoproteins.
 110. Composition according to claim 106, characterized in that said composition comprises a peptide sequence corresponding to the entire region 590-620 of the gp41 protein of HIV-1_((VAU)) or a part of this region which is specific for HIV-1_((VAU)).
 111. Composition according to claim 91, characterized in that said peptide sequence is the sequence -TFIQN-, CKNRLIC or WGCKNR.
 112. Antibody which may recognize a protein, a peptide or a polypeptide derived from said protein according to claim
 1. 113. Process for the in vitro diagnosis of an infection caused by the HIV-1_((VAU)) virus and/or by the HIV-1 (DUR) virus, said process comprising: the placing in contact of a serum or of another biological medium, derived from a patient forming the subject of the diagnosis, with at least one of the envelope proteins or glycoproteins of the HIV-1_((VAU)) and/or HIV-1_((DUR)) virus or of a peptide or polypeptide obtained from one of these proteins or glycoproteins respectively according to claim 1, and the detection of an immunological reaction.
 114. Reagent required for the Western blot (immunoblot) or ELISA reaction, containing an envelope protein or glycoprotein of the HIV-1_((VAU)) and/or HIV-1 (DUR) virus or of a peptide or polypeptide obtained from one of these proteins or glycoproteins according claim
 1. 115. Use of a nucleotide sequence according to claim 94 in order to induce in vivo the synthesis of antibodies directed against the antigen coded for by said sequence.
 116. Immunogenic composition according to claim 106, which is capable of inducing antibodies in animals.
 117. Diagnostic kit for the in vitro detection on a biological sample, of an infection with an HIV-1 subgroup O retrovirus, for example of an HIV-1_((VAU)) and/or HIV-1_((DUR)) retrovirus, characterized in that it comprises: primers according to claim 98 for the gene amplification of an HIV-1 subgroup O retrovirus, reagents required for the gene amplification reaction.
 118. Kit for the in vitro detection, on a biological sample, of an HIV-1 subgroup O retrovirus, characterized in that it comprises as optionally labeled probe, at least one nucleotide sequence according to claim 94, which is optionally immobilized on a solid support.
 119. Kit according to claim 99, characterized in that it also comprises the reagents required for carrying out a hybridization.
 120. Process of detection and discrimination, in a biological sample, between antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus, characterized by the placing in contact of this biological sample with a peptide chosen from peptides (1), (2), (3), (4), (5a) and (5b), peptide (9) and peptide (10).
 121. Process of detection and discrimination, in a biological sample, between antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and antibodies characteristic of an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus, characterized by the placing in contact of this biological sample with a peptide obtained from one of the HIV-1 subgroup M viruses taken into consideration in FIGS. 8 and 9 and homologous with a peptide chosen from those of claim 120, the sequence of this homologous peptide resulting from vertical alignments of its own successive amino acids, which are themselves contained in the pertinent peptide sequence relative to the corresponding HIV-1 subgroup M virus and represented in FIG. 8 or 9 with the successive amino acids of the chosen peptide sequence, as also follows from FIG. 8 or
 9. 122. Process of detection and discrimination between infection with an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and of the HIV-1 subgroup M type, characterized by the placing in contact of sera, derived from individuals subjected to a diagnostic test for AIDS, with the peptide RILAVERY.
 123. Process for the detection of infection due either to an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O or HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus, characterized by the use of mixtures of two categories of peptides, those of the first category corresponding to those identified in claim
 120. 124. Process of discrimination between an infection due to an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O DUR retrovirus or variant, and an infection due to another type of HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, characterized by the placing in contact of the biological sample studied with any one of the following peptides: peptide (11), peptide (12) or peptide (13), peptide (14) or peptide (15) or peptides (17), (18), (19) and (20).
 125. Vector containing a nucleic acid whose nucleotide sequence corresponds to any one of the sequences of claim
 94. 126. Vector according to claim 125, characterized in that it is a plasmid.
 127. Plasmid chosen from those which were deposited at the CNCM on 24 Feb. 1995 under the references I-1548, I-1549 and I-1550.
 128. Cell containing a nucleic acid whose nucleotide sequence corresponds to any one of the sequences of claim
 125. 129. Virus deposited on 23 Feb. 1994 at the CNCM under the reference I-1542.
 130. Virus, characterized in that the consensus peptides of this virus are recognized by antibodies which specifically recognize a peptide according to claim
 77. 131. Kit for the in vitro detection of antibodies against HIV, containing at least one peptide according to claim
 77. 132. Kit according to claim 131, also containing at least one consensus peptide derived from another HIV strain comprising: either an amino acid sequence which is separate from the sequence of this peptide, in which one or more amino acids are replaced with other amino acids, with the proviso that the peptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the consensus peptide, or an amino acid sequence in which one or more amino acids have been deleted or added, with the proviso that the peptide or polypeptide retains its reactivity with an antiserum against the consensus peptide.
 133. Kit according to claim 131, characterized in that the other HIV strain is an HIV-LAI strain.
 134. Process of discrimination between an infection with an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus and an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus, using a serine protease whose cleaving action is carried out on an SR dipeptide, and comprising the detection of a cleavage or of a on-cleavage of the V3 loop of gp120 of the retrovirus, depending on whether this retrovirus is an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus or an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus.
 135. Viral lysate as obtained by lysis of cells infected with a virus according to claim 129 or with an HIV-1_((VAU)) virus.
 136. Protein extract of HIV-1_((DUR)) strain containing in particular an antigenic peptide according to claim
 1. 137. Bacterial strain deposited at the CNCM on 20 Oct. 1994 under the access number 1-1486.
 138. Composition for detection and discrimination, in a biological sample, between an HIV-1 subgroup M retrovirus and an HIV-1 group (or subgroup) O retrovirus, comprising a mixture of two categories of peptides, the first being those identified in claim
 120. 139. peptide according to claim 79, characterized in that it consists of a peptide whose amino acid sequence is contained either in one of the following sequences: IGGHQGALQ (23) REPTGSDI (24)

or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids of one of said sequences.
 140. Peptide according to claim 78, characterized in that it consists of a peptide whose amino acid sequence is contained in the following amino acid sequence: INDEAADWD (25)

or in a corresponding immunologically similar sequence, this peptide containing at least 4 consecutive amino acids of said sequence.
 141. Nucleic acid coding for the peptides of claim
 139. 142. Composition comprising at least one nucleic acid according to claim
 141. 143. Use of at least one nucleic acid according to claim 141 for detection and discrimination between HIV-1 group M and HIV-1 group O strains.
 144. A purified HIV-1 Gag peptide comprising a sequence selected from AHPQQA (SEQ ID NO:8) and LWTTRAGNP (SEQ ID NO:9).
 145. A purified HIV-1 isolate comprising a Gag protein, wherein the Gag protein comprises a sequence selected from AHPQQA (SEQ ID NO:8) and LWTTRAGNP (SEQ ID NO:9).
 146. A probe for HIV-1 group O, wherein the probe encodes an HIV-1 Gag peptide of claim
 144. 147. A purified HIV-1 gag gene, wherein the gag gene encodes an HIV-1 Gag peptide of claim
 144. 148. A purified HIV-1 nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid encodes an HIV-1 Gag peptide of claim
 144. 149. A method for the in vitro diagnosis of an infection caused by an HIV-1 virus comprising (a) obtaining a biological sample comprising antibodies; (b) contacting the sample with at least one peptide of claim 144; and (c) detecting the immunological complexes formed.
 150. A kit comprising the HIV-1 Gag peptide of claim 144 and a detection reagent.
 151. A kit for the detection of an HIV-1 group O virus, the kit comprising a detection reagent and a synthetic HIV-1 Gag peptide comprising a sequence selected from SPRTLNAWVKAVEEKAFNPEIIPMFMALSEGA; (SEQ ID NO: 10) MLNAIGGHQGALQVLKEVIN; (SEQ ID NO: 11) GPLPPGQIREPTGSDIAGTTSTQQEQI; (SEQ ID NO: 12) IPVGDIYRKWIVLGLNKMVKMYSPVSILDI; (SEQ ID NO: 13) QGPKEPFRDYVDRFYKTKLAE; (SEQ ID NO: 14) SPRTLNAWVK; (SEQ ID NO: 15) GSDIAGTTST; (SEQ ID NO: 16) QGPKEPFRDYVDRF; (SEQ ID NO: 17) NPEI; (SEQ ID NO: 18) AVEEKAFNPEIIPMFM; (SEQ ID NO: 19) IGGHQGALQ; (SEQ ID NO: 20) REPTGSDI; (SEQ ID NO: 21) and IDEAADWD. (SEQ ID NO: 22)


152. A synthetic peptide consisting of the sequence RL*ALET**QNQQ*L*LWGC*****CYTXV*WN*TW* (SEQ ID NO:92) or a fragment of this sequence comprising at least two amino acid sequences selected from: RL*ALET; QNQQ; LWGC; and CYTXV; wherein * denotes any amino acid and X is S or T.
 153. The peptide of claim 152, wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequences RL*ALET and QNQQ.
 154. The peptide of claim 152, wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequences RL*ALET; QNQQ; and LWGC.
 155. The peptide of claim 152, wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequences RL*ALET; QNQQ; LWGC; and CYTXV.
 156. A method for the in vitro diagnosis of an infection caused by an HIV-1 group O retrovirus comprising: (a) contacting a biological medium from a patient with a peptide of claim 152; and (b) detecting an immunological reaction between the peptide and antibodies in the biological medium.
 157. The method of claim 156, wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequences RL*ALET and QNQQ.
 158. The method of claim 156, wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequences RL*ALET; QNQQ; and LWGC.
 159. The method of claim 156, wherein the peptide comprises the amino acid sequences RL*ALET; QNQQ; LWGC; and CYTXV.
 160. Peptide according to claim 152, which comprises the sequence: RL*ALET**QNQQ.


161. Peptide according to claim 152 which comprises the sequence: RL*ALET**QNQQ*L*LWGC.


162. Peptide according to claim 152 which comprises the sequence: RL*ALET**QNQQ*L*LWGC*****CYTXV.


163. Peptide according to claim 152 which comprises the five sequences RL*ALET, QNQQLWGC, CYTXV AND WN*TW. 